Crowds at a public event in Nairobi, June 29, 2026. /FILE
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has urged the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to tighten its crackdown on hate speech and incitement ahead of the 2027 General Election, warning that failure to act could heighten the risk of election-related violence.
During a consultative meeting between the two organisations, the NCCK called on the commission to establish a hate speech and incitement monitoring and rapid response mechanism that will gather data and facilitate the prosecution of offenders from all political parties.
The church cautioned against underestimating the risks associated with an election in which a sitting president is seeking re-election.
It noted that previous incumbency contests have often been characterised by heightened political tensions and violence.
"Traditionally, incumbency elections have been marked by intense polarization, heavy electioneering, and violence before, during and after the polls, as was the case in 1992, 1997, 2007 and 2017," NCCK General Secretary Rev Canon Chris Kinyanjui pointed out.
"If this trend holds, then we can expect the 2027 elections to potentially be brutally violent," he added.
Beyond tackling hate speech, the NCCK recommended that the NCIC work closely with community-level peace committees to identify financiers of political goons and ensure they are prosecuted.
Political goonism has become rampant in recent times where hired gangs are actively being utilised to intimidate rivals and disrupt rallies.
Political elites across the divide have been accused of outsourcing youthful gangs and using them to intimidate opponents, block roads, disrupt public demonstrations and even break up high-profile meetings in exchange for daily wages.
The council further challenged the commission to "present NCIC as a visibly independent and even-handed enforcer" by publishing clear election-cycle cohesion protocols.
NCIC chairperson Bishop Kepha Omae and the other commissioners welcomed the proposals, saying they are consistent with the commission's mandate to foster national cohesion and peaceful coexistence.
Omae said the proposals align with the commission's aspirations and constitutional mandate and commended the role played by the NCCK in promoting national cohesion.
He proposed structured engagements between the two institutions guided by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
"We would like to partner with you in the different peace and cohesion initiatives including the Uwiano and the Amani Conference," Bishop Omae affirmed.
The NCCK delegation was led by its chairperson, Rev Dr Elias Otieno Agola, and general secretary Canon Chris Kinyanjui.
The commission also committed to launch a peace pledge during the upcoming Amani Conference, where political leaders will be invited to sign their commitment to peaceful campaigns and elections.
